Beach Volleyball Receives AVCA Team Academic Award

July 28, 2017, 05:16 PM (CT)
Updated: July 28, 2017, 05:22 PM (CT)

Fraser McAlpine
Communications Student Assistant

BATON ROUGE- For the second straight season, the LSU beach volleyball team was one of just 19 beach teams that received the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2016-17 season, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced.

The award recognizes collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The AVCA Team Academic Award, celebrating its 25th year, is the single largest award offered by quantity of schools, players, and coaches honored. This season, 822 teams earned the award to break the previous year’s total of 764, setting an all-time high.

“Our players know that our first priority is our academic success. This award is a fitting capstone to our successful season. I’m proud of our commitment to our studies and this great honor,” said head coach Russell Brock.

“Being honored with the AVCA Team Academic Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication these student-athletes have displayed this past year,” said associate director of Academic Affairs Adriana Mason.

“With the support of their coaching staff, Russell, (assistant coach) Trey (Cruz), and their learning specialist, Dedrick Ford, the team has earned their highest GPA in team history.”

This past season, the beach team was recognized at the Tiger Athletic Foundation Academic Excellence Gala after combining for an impressive 3.483 GPA, marking the highest female team GPA across all sports.